Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a supersaturated solution of an inorganic solute in an aqueous solvent, to such solutions and to a method of treating wood by impregnating it with such solutions. The method of preparing the solution involves mixing an aqueous solvent and salt solute together with an organic dopant comprising an emulsifier and an oil or wax, so that the eventual solution comprises an aqueous phase in which the solute is dissolved, the proportions of the constituents being selected so that the aqueous phase is a supersaturated solution of the inorganic salt solute in the solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating an artifact to combat unauthorized tampering with the identity thereof. The method comprises forming a coating on at least part of a surface of the artifact, to provide the artifact with an identification mark which comprises said coating. Forming the coating is by means of thermal spray-coating. The method can be used to coat a pre-formed identification mark on the surface, or to apply an identification mark to the surface, the mark being an engine number, chassis number, or the like. The method acts to render vehicle or aircraft theft, and forgery of parts thereof, more difficult.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the preliminary detection of abnormal levels of metabolites in the urine of a human or mammal. The method includes the steps of determining the amount of creatinine in the urine of the human or animal, measuring the total metabolites content in the urine, using the amount of creatinine in the urine as an internal standard to compensate for variations in the urine concentration, and comparing the total metabolites content in the urine with a reference value which corresponds to the expected total metabolites content in the urine of a person or animal who does not suffer from a metabolic disorder. The apparatus (10) includes an ultraviolet oxidation unit (16) for oxidising total metabolites in a urine sample to carbon dioxide, an organic carbon stripper (18) for stripping carbon dioxide gas from the oxidised sample, and a carbon dioxide detector (69) for measuring the amount of carbon dioxide produced from the sample.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for activating a plurality of groups of electrical loads, such as electrical detonators used in blasting, after respective time delays. The apparatus comprises a master control unit which generates master control signals to initiate timing out of delay devices associated with each load. The apparatus further includes several auxiliary control units which are connectable to the master control unit. Each auxiliary control unit is adapted to control a respective group of remote electrical delay devices with associated electrical loads. Each auxiliary control unit includes local control means for generating local control signals from the master control signals which are synchronised with the local control signals of other auxiliary control units, for initiating operation of the delay devices, so that a large blast can be carried out in a perfectly synchronised manner.

Abstract: A novel family of substantially amorphous aluminosilicate catalysts and a process for the manufacture thereof are described. In the process, a source of silica, a source of alumina and a source of an alkali metal are mixed in an aqueous medium and then subjected to hydrothermal treatment at a temperature of from 20.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. for a period of from 1 hour to 250 hours, the reaction conditions and duration being selected so as to produce a solid which is substantially amorphous. The invention also extends to the use of the calalyst in acid catalyzed reactions such as the skeletal isomerization of normal olefins, in particular normal butene, and to the use of the catalyst as a support in metal catalyzed reactions.

Abstract: A continuous miner has a pivotal boom mounting a rotor carrying picks for attaching and dislodging mineral deposit in a mineral deposit seam within host rock. A thin layer of mineral deposit is left respectively against a roof and against a floor. Ultrasonic sound waves are generated and are transmitted via a jet of water directed against the roof. Reflections are transmitted back via the jet of water to a receiver. Layers of the mineral deposit and the host rock are identified in respect of presence and location, by means of logic which generates a control signal to restrict pivoting of the boom to prevent cutting into the host rock by the rotor.

Abstract: A method of establishing a telecommunications network. The method includes the steps of providing a network of local stations joined to one another by microwave links, and arranging, in a cluster around each local station, a plurality of subscriber, or telephone stations, each subscriber station having a unique code. Optical telecommunications links are then established between the subscriber stations and their associated local station. The operation of the network is managed using a system controller, which includes a system controller database incorporating a network map, subscriber and local station data. Associated local databases are established at each of the local stations, and the various databases are continuously and automatically updated via the network in response to a change on the configuration of the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing apparatus comprising a printing track defining a print receiving surface and a printing carriage arranged to travel along the printing track. The carriage includes printing heads arranged to receive data from a central database for printing on the printing surface at predetermined positions along the printing track, and a roller arrangement for driving the carriage along the printing track. An optical position encoder is provided for monitoring the movement of the carriage as it travels along the printing track. A data transmission link is provided for interfacing the central database to the carriage. The central database includes both positional data for controlling the position of the printing heads and pricing data. The printing track has mounting clips for mounting it on a shelf edge, and the printing heads are arranged to label items of stock on the shelf.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blasting apparatus for activating a plurality of electrical detonators after predetermined time delays. The blasting apparatus includes a plurality of remote electrical delay devices. Each device is linked to a detonator, and is arranged to be serially programmed with a timing signal, which originates from the central control unit and which determines the time delay. A bidirectional signal harness, having ends which terminate at I/O ports in the control unit, serially links the delay devices to the control unit. In the event of a fault of discontinuity occurring in the harness prior to programming of the delay devices, the discontinuity is detected and the direction of programming along the bidirectional harness is reversed so that those delay devices which, due to the break, cannot be programmed in the initial direction, are programmed with timing signals travelling along the signal line in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A wood preservative composition including a mixture of two or more metallic soaps of long chain unsaturated fatty acids, which soaps have a metallic component selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, chromium, iron, antimony, tin, cobalt, nickel, arsenic, boron, lead, magnesium, potassium and sodium, and a fatty acid component selected from two or more of the group consisting of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, the composition being such that the ratio by mass of metallic soap of oleic acid:metallic soap of linoleic acid:metallic soap of linolenic acid is about 20-29:15-70:0-47.

Abstract: An electrical harness element comprises a multi conductor cable with power supply conductors and a signal conductor. At intervals along the cable, connectors in the form of sockets are fixed. The power supply conductors are continuous along the length of cable, but the signal conductor is interrupted at each socket by a series relay. The relay can be controlled by an electrical circuit, which is typically part of a sensor device which plugs into the socket. A number of the harness elements can be connected end to end as well as in branch configurations and are connected to a central computer. The relays are used to assist the central computer in addressing the sensor devices.

Abstract: The invention concerns a diamond bearing assembly for a downhole motor. The assembly (10) includes at least one set of opposing, relatively rotating thrust bearing rings (20, 22) each of which includes an annular support element (24, 30) and PCD compacts (26, 32) carried by the support elements. The PCD compacts of the bearing rings oppose one another at a thrust bearing interface (80). Shear limiting means (96, 110) are provided. These means are arranged to shear if frictional forces between the opposing PCD compacts at the thrust bearing interface exceed a critical level. This eliminates relative rotation between the bearing rings and avoids possible overheating and thermal degradation of the PCD. The shear limiting means can also serve as an alignment means to ensure correct axial alignment of the bearing components. The bearing assembly may also include a compact radial bearing capability.

Abstract: An ionizing radiation converter 10 comprises a vacuum tight enclosure 12; a cathode 16; an anode 18 defining a pinhole 20 and comprising an output phosphor layer facing away from the cathode; and focusing electrodes 26 and 30. The focusing electrodes, anode and cathode, in use, force photoelectrons, emitted by the cathode as a result of input ionizing radiation, to move through the pinhole, and back to the anode, so that the photoelectrons impinge on the output phosphor layer to provide an intensified signal representative of the input radiation.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a control station and a number of remote stations connected to the control station by a multi-conductor harness. The control station houses a computer and supplies the remote stations with electrical power, as well as communicating bidirectionally with the remote stations, via the harness. At each remote station, a sensor or other functional module is plugged into an interface. Communication circuitry receives data from and sends data to the control station. The remote station includes an identification device for storing a first code allocated to the remote station by the central computer which identifies the relative location of the remote station, as well as a second code generated at the remote station which identifies the function of the sensor or other functional module.

Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel frame 10 is in the form of an assembly including three main components 12, 14, 30 of fiber-reinforced synthetic plastics molded material and a pre-assembled hub 32. First and second members 12, 14 are mirror images. Each includes a circular band portion 16, 18; a plurality of spoke portions 20, 22, extending inwardly from the band portions; and hub mounting arrangements 24, 26 in the form of an inner peripheral flanges at inner ends of the spoke portions. The first and second members are closed on each other to form an outer, circular, outwardly concave band 28, a plurality of hollow spokes and the hub mounting formations in opposed arrangement. The third main component is a rim 30 seated in the concave band 28 and adapted to seat a tire. The hub 32 is received intermediate the hub mounting formations. The three main components and the hub are assembled together and bonded together by suitable resinous adhesives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blasting apparatus for activating a plurality of electrical detonators after predetermined time delays. The blasting apparatus includes a plurality of remote electrical delay devices. Each device is linked to a detonator, and is arranged to be serially programmed with a timing signal, which originates from the central control unit and which determines the time delay. A bidirectional signal harness, having ends which terminate at I/O ports in the control unit, serially links the delay devices to the control unit. In the event of a fault of discontinuity occurring in the harness prior to programming of the delay devices, the discontinuity is detected and the direction of programming along the bidirectional harness is reversed so that those delay devices which, due to the break, cannot be programmed in the initial direction, are programmed with timing signals travelling along the signal line in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A method of forming a methanol synthesis catalyst precursor comprises forming a precipitate comprising compounds, thermally decomposable to oxides or mixed oxides, of copper, zinc, aluminum and at least one element of Group IVB and/or Group VIIB of the Periodic Table of Elements.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making tubes from flexible textile sheets by which a sheet is helically wound around two or more non-rotatable support bars. Feed rollers contacting two or more helical convolutions wind the sheet so that adjacent helical convolutions overlap and also maintain the tube upstream of the feed rollers in tension to progress the tube axially along the support bars. As the sheet is wound into helical form, successive helical convolutions are sewn together to form a continuous tube.

Abstract: A locating system 10 for locating predetermined labelled objects 20 includes a transceiver unit 12 which comprises a narrow beamwidth antenna 14 for transmitting an energizing signal 16 at a predetermined first frequency and for receiving a returned signal 22 at a predetermined second frequency from an object to be located, the energizing signal 16 incorporating a predetermined transponder category code. A plurality of label-like transponders 18 is provided, each of which is affixable to an object 20 to be located. Each transponder 18 includes logic circuitry in order that each transponder 18 in a predetermined group of labelled objects 20 constituting the category radiates a returned signal 22, including a transponder identification code, to the transceiver unit 12 in a time-delayed manner so that returned signals 22 are received serially by the transceiver unit 12.

Abstract: The invention provides a foundation raft for supporting a structure such as a low rise building on soil which is prone to heaving or settling. The raft has a pair of foundation slabs, of set cementitious material which are spaced apart by a plurality of upwardly extending webs. The webs are fast with the slabs. Each slab has a thickness A of 50-200 mm; the slabs are spaced apart by a spacing B of 100-1500 mm; and each web has a thickness C of 0.2-400 mm.